The Veils – Troubles of the Brain EP (20/05/2011)
After three full length albums, The Veils return with the Troubles of the Brain EP, a six track effort which showcases the depth and talent of the English group. This marks the first material to come from their new private label, Pitch Beast Records which consequently has seen this being a relatively low-key release. The EP was recorded in the northern summer of 2010 in vocalist Finn Andrews’ house with the help of producer Bernard Butler (The Libertines).
The first track is the up-tempo number Bloom, which immediately showcases the brilliant songwriting of Andrews as well as the tight rhythm section that is the backbone of the group. It is essentially a pop song and subject matter focuses on teenage love with the chorus “she took my hand and now there’s no other”. However, it is the ability of the band to make these types of songs engaging and interesting to the listener, in the style of Arcade Fire, which really shines through. The next song Don’t let the Same Bee Sting you Twice shows a different side of the band, much in the vein of The White Stripes with a bluesy and added violin section.
The remaining songs continue the trend of diverse and different approaches with highlights being The Wishbone, which bring Andrews’ wonderful vibrato to the forefront and the hauntingly beautiful closing track Us Godless Teenagers. The album has believable emotions, a rare thing in the modern music market, as well as fantastic lyrics such as “I can’t seem to get to grips with it. I almost touched my fingertips to it.”
Overall, this marks a wonderful EP which is just as deserving of the accolades given to 2009 release Sun Gangs. The growing following this band is starting to receive worldwide is a testament to the accessibility and relatability of subject matter to the younger target audience of teenagers and 20-somethings. The only real down point of the album comes in the depressing and somber mood that the final couple of tracks leave you as well as the wanting of more than 18 minutes of recordings to lose yourself in. Nevertheless it is brilliant listening, but for the next release a few more tracks wouldn’t go amiss boys.
Sebastian Betten
The first track is the up-tempo number Bloom, which immediately showcases the brilliant songwriting of Andrews as well as the tight rhythm section that is the backbone of the group. It is essentially a pop song and subject matter focuses on teenage love with the chorus “she took my hand and now there’s no other”. However, it is the ability of the band to make these types of songs engaging and interesting to the listener, in the style of Arcade Fire, which really shines through. The next song Don’t let the Same Bee Sting you Twice shows a different side of the band, much in the vein of The White Stripes with a bluesy and added violin section.
The remaining songs continue the trend of diverse and different approaches with highlights being The Wishbone, which bring Andrews’ wonderful vibrato to the forefront and the hauntingly beautiful closing track Us Godless Teenagers. The album has believable emotions, a rare thing in the modern music market, as well as fantastic lyrics such as “I can’t seem to get to grips with it. I almost touched my fingertips to it.”
Overall, this marks a wonderful EP which is just as deserving of the accolades given to 2009 release Sun Gangs. The growing following this band is starting to receive worldwide is a testament to the accessibility and relatability of subject matter to the younger target audience of teenagers and 20-somethings. The only real down point of the album comes in the depressing and somber mood that the final couple of tracks leave you as well as the wanting of more than 18 minutes of recordings to lose yourself in. Nevertheless it is brilliant listening, but for the next release a few more tracks wouldn’t go amiss boys.
Sebastian Betten